Urinary Tract Infection Home Remedies That Can Save You A Trip To The Doctor

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an incredibly painful and inconvenient experience. Although they can affect either men or women, it is much more common for women to suffer from them. In fact, some estimates believe that over 8 million women have a UTI that makes them go to the doctor each year. Everyone who has ever had one knows the symptoms: needing to go to the bathroom but only being able to produce a small amount of urine which comes with a burning sensation. While you should always go to the doctor if you experience persistent (more than two days) or incredibly uncomfortable UTIs, there are some home remedies for a urinary tract infection that can help relieve your symptoms before it becomes necessary to visit the doctor or even prevent them from occurring. A word of warning, however: remember that these are simply home remedies and that should to go with the treatment prescribed by your doctor if you develop a UTI, not replace them.

Baking Soda

One of the simplest urinary tract infection home remedies is to take a glass of water and add a teaspoon of baking soda to it. Although it will not taste pleasant, this method can help your recovery process. It does so because the baking soda will help neutralize your urine’s acidity, making it much less likely that the infection will spread to your kidneys and helping your UTI disappear more quickly.

Blueberries

One of the delicious home remedies is consuming blueberries or cranberries. That is because these berries both contain bacteria-inhibiting properties which can help fight the UTI. This is not one of the urinary tract infection home remedies that do not have scientific backing actually showed that drinking blueberry juice can help prevent UTIs. But because the juice is hard to find, simply eating the berries is usually good enough to help you prevent these painful infections from ever occurring.

Cranberry Juice

Almost everyone has heard of cranberry juice for treating UTIs and in fact it is probably the most popular home remedies for a UTI. We already know that cranberries have bacteria-inhibiting properties and this means that it can help prevent the bacteria from making a home in your bladder. In addition, the juice has mild antibiotic effects. If you don’t have an infection and want to keep it that way, try having four ounces of the juice each day. If you either have one or get them often, however, try to increase your consumption to two to four glasses. Luckily for those who don’t like the taste of plain cranberry juice, a cranberry juice cocktail will work just as well.

Pineapple

Next on the list of delicious home remedies for a urinary tract infection is pineapple. The secret to pineapple’s success is the enzyme bromelain. A study showed that when patients suffering from a UTI consumed bromelain in addition to their normal antibiotics, their infection was completely eliminated with no lingering signs or symptoms.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a common treatment for many illnesses so it is no surprise that it is one of the UTI home remedies. That is because the vitamin C will acidify the urine which in turn prevents unhealthy bacteria that can cause the infection. Because of this, some doctors recommend those who suffer from recurring UTIs consume 5,000 mg of the vitamin each day.

Yogurt

Right after cranberry juice, the next most popular of the urinary tract infection home remedies is eating yogurt. That is because yogurt contains probiotics (beneficial bacteria) that can help your body fight infections. When choosing your yogurt, opt for ones that contain extra probiotics and start eating it as soon as you notice the symptoms of a UTI.

Water

Everyone should drink plenty of water to stay healthy but this is even more important if you are prone to UTIs. That is because when you fill your system with water, it will help flush out the bacteria that is causing your frequent and painful urination. While you should normally have eight glasses (eight ounces each) a day and go to the bathroom every 4 to 5 hours, if you develop an infection this home remedy says you should increase your consumption to a full glass every hour. Water is one of the best home remedies for a urinary tract infection because as well as clearing out your system when you drink it, placing a warm water bottle on your abdomen can relieve any pain.

Cotton

If you are suffering from a UTI, you should always stick to cotton underwear. That is because it will help you stay fresh and dry, reducing the symptoms of the infection. So always stick to cotton undergarments and men should try to use boxer shorts as opposed to briefs.

Uva-Ursi

This is a shrub that comes from mountainous areas in North America and while it is helpful as one of the home remedies for a urinary tract infection, you must take care. This shrub works well because it has arbutoside as well as other chemicals that have antiseptic properties. Arbutoside in particular will help fight infection as it goes through the bladder system. As mentioned, however, you need to take care when using this home remedy. That is because arbutoside becomes hydroquinone (the chemical that fights the infection) but this chemical can be carcinogenic and cause liver damage when consumed in large quantities. Therefore it should never be used for an extended period and you should always talk to your doctor before trying this option.

Goldenseal

Although research is still being done, there is inconclusive evidence that goldenseal is one of the effective urinary tract infection home remedies. That is because it has berberine, a compound that will stop bacteria from staying on the urethra’s walls. So while you can try it as a home remedy, doctors are still unsure about how well it will work.

Go When You Have To

One of the most important things to do if you want to prevent a UTI is to empty your bladder when you need to. That is because when you hold it in, there is a higher risk of developing a buildup of bacteria that can cause an infection.